PATRONAGE

Location and venue

Location

A walk through the historical city center of Krakow is a journey through time. The impressive Wawel Hill, St Mary's Church, and Market Square with its Cloth Hall are unique: every spot fires your imagination and every stone breathes history. From its very beginnings until the seventeenth century, Kracow was the capital of Poland, and still remains an intellectual and cultural center. The city is the nation's most important heritage complex, with approximately 6000 historic buildings and about 3 million movable heritage artfacts gathered in the city's museums, churches and private collections. Krakow's heritage includes all epochs and styles. The most beautiful and precious among historic sites are the Royal Castle and Cathedral on Wawel Hill, the ‘heart' of Polish history and the most visited sites in the whole country. The city has preserved its mediaeval layout, with a centrally-located and spacious Main Market Square, an ordered grid of streets, important municipal buildings, a university complex, churches and houses. The historic center of Krakow was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978.

During your visit do not forget to admire the artwork of Leonardo da Vinci (‘Lady with an Ermine'), Rembrandt, Rubens and other masters.

Venue

Collegium Maius University Museum 31-010 Kraków ul. Jagiellońska 15

The meeting will take place in the heart of the city in Collegium Maius, the oldest university edifice in Poland. Its history dates back to the fifteenth century. In the past lecture rooms were located on the ground floor, with the Library, the refectory for professors, Treasury rooms and the Assembly Hall on the first floor. In the second half of the twentieth century, Collegium Maius was designated as the seat of the Jagiellonian University Museum, home to ancient collections, including one of old scientific instruments.

Travel

By air: The international airport Krakow-Balice is the second largest airport in the country. It serves domestic flights to Warsaw and direct continental connections with many cities in the world. The city center is easily accessible from the airport either by taxi or public transport.

By rail: there are many international connections to all the major towns in the neighboring countries. Warsaw, the capital of Poland, can be reached in about 3 hours by InterCity trains. The main Railway Station (Kraków Główny) is situated in the very center of the city.